That’s what Lindsay Lawler had in mind when she, her mother, her father and her sister-in-law, opened Skate Nation this summer so customers can strap on their skates and glide on the rink.

“I want a family fun place for the children to go,” Lawler said. “I want somewhere where the parents can drop their children off and feel good about it. Just a safe, fun place for the kids to go.”

When Wheels closed on New Year’s Day of this year, patrons said it left a void, especially for local adolescents, but about six months later, Skate Nation opened at 118 Bridget Lane, Wheels’ former location. Lawler said, though, that though the address still holds a skating rink, long-time Onslow County roller skaters may be surprised by what they see.

According to Lawler, soon after the previous tenant shut its doors, a complete overhaul of the interior began. Everything from the carpets to the wall’s paint was replaced.

“We tore everything out of here,” Lawler said. “We started from scratch...we even have new sheet rock on the walls. We moved the bathrooms. Everything in here is new.”

Lawler, a Jacksonville native, spent her teenage years hanging out at local roller skating rinks saying they were safe, fun places for young people to spend their evenings. That same atmosphere is what she’s shooting for with Skate Nation. After renovations were completed and the building was ready for business, Lawler said she was filled with excitement and anxiety, hoping the rink would get off to a big start.

She wasn’t disappointed.

“(It was) chaos,” Lawler said. “It was extremely packed. We’ve got tons of people rushing through the door … I was very happy about it.”

Skate Nation also serves as a practice facility for two local Roller Derby teams – the New River Knockouts and the Brawling Betties. Both teams are actively recruiting with the New River Knockouts holding beginners classes every first Friday of the month, beginning Sept. 5.

Cris Jurado, a real estate agent and member of the Brawling Betties, said her team is also looking for women to join their ranks and support their cause, but warns suiting up and stepping onto the rink is not for the weak of heart.

According to Jurado, bruises are common and received like trophies.

“It takes a lot of endurance and heart,” Jurado said. “You can’t have a weak stomach. It’s a tough sport.”

Jurado first got involved with roller derby while working as a military contractor in Germany and fell in love with it. Jurado is an expecting mother and cannot play, but she still serves in a support role with the team, assisting with charity events and babysitting for team members on the rink.

Page 2 of 2 - Membership in the Brawling Betties is open to both men and women – though men cannot suit up and can only serve in support roles.

According to Jurado, the team’s main emphasis is on community outreach, though she hopes the team will be ready to compete in the next few years. Jurado says the team has raised more than $10,000 since their inception in 2012.

Though it was not their only practice venue, Jurado said the end of Wheels was a blow to the team since it was their largest indoor skating venue. When Skate Nation opened its doors, and their arms to Brawling Betties, Jurado said she felt as if the team had struck gold.

“It was like someone handed us a million bucks,” Jurado said. “The atmosphere is fantastic, it’s decorated very well, it’s clean and everything is updated...you feel fantastic while you’re in there.”